Box Score April 30, 2010
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville stranded 13 baserunners Friday and dropped a 7-3 series-opening game to Southern Illinois Carbondale at Abe Martin Field.
The Cougars, 12-29, left at least two baserunners on in six out of the nine innings. After scoring two runs in the top of the ninth, SIUE also left three runners on base.
The Salukis, which improved to 20-22, also edged the Cougars in hits 14-12. All but four of the game's hits were singles.
SIUC grabbed the lead in the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Chris Serritella and Tyler Bullock. After adding another run in the fourth, SIUE cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth.
Zach Hawkins slapped a single through the right side of the infield. Thad Hawkins would follow with a single of his own. Brett Lancaster picked up the RBI with another hit through the right side.
The Salukis, which stranded 10 runners of their own, would knock out SIUE starter Josh Malin, 1-5, in the bottom of the seventh. After Malin gave up a single to Blake Pinnon, Serritella made it a pair of runners in scoring position with a double off SIUE reliever Mitchell Fairley. One out later, Austin Montgomery would single both home. Montgomery would later score on an infield error.
SIUE picked up two runs in the ninth, all with two outs. Adam Eggemeyer started the scoring his second double of the day. Mitch Matecki put runners at the corners single up the middle.
Matecki would be the last batter for Salukis starter Nathan Forer, who allowed 11 hits and struck out five. Forer evened his record at 2-2.
Salukis reliever Lee Weld got off to a less than stellar start by hitting Dustin Brooks and then giving up an RBI single to Joel Greatting. With the bases loaded, Weld walked Zach Hawkins but got the only out he needed when Thad Hawkins grounded out to third.
The same two teams face off in game two of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday. Joe Pott will provide the call on WSIE FM 88.7.
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